Today’s health care delivery has been revolutionized by the rapid changes in medical technology. This, combined with high-tech diagnostics and therapies and changing doctor practice patterns. Medical technology, without a doubt, is vital for improving the quality of life and health of some people. It contributes billions of dollar to the economic system. Some would even say the practice medicine today is dependent on technology. It’s probably because clinicians use so many technologies in diagnosing and treating patients, as well as assessing them.
Medical technology today is more sophisticated, more efficient, and more expensive than ever. A growing need for high tech diagnostic and therapeutic health facilities may conflict with the medical necessity, social justice or cost-effectiveness. As health care budgets are under increasing pressure, more and more decisions are being made publicly about how to best utilize these resources. We believe that due to the complexity and high cost of modern technology, testimonials are not sufficient to make decisions about new technologies. It is important to ask if the new technology can provide information previously unavailable and if this information could lead to the cure of an otherwise fatal and common disease. The technology assessment allows physicians to determine which technologies will benefit their patients and recommend the best course of action. The use of technology assessment can encourage clinicians and scientists to adopt a more skeptical attitude towards new technologies. This will help to maximize the scarce health care resources.
The need to increase productivity in spite of financial constraints has re-ignited the debate on cost-effectiveness in medical care. Included in the important parameters are the incidence and severity of the disease, as well as the costs and results of the treatment. In health care, the cost-benefit ratio is an important issue. It can be difficult to value a life in dollars, as it is done often in court.
Every new innovation, technology, or process will come with a level of risk. Contrary the optimistic utterances made by many politicians, ‘zero risks’ do not exist. No innovation can exist without a risk element. Medical technology companies believe that in order to reduce risk, they need to take appropriate risk management measures. This is done in a continuous process. The patient’s benefit must be considered when determining whether or not a residual is acceptable.
In conclusion, the rapid growth of technology in the health care sector has far-reaching effects on both the users and the providers. It is still necessary to do a detailed assessment of the technological aspects in relation to cost and benefit. The investment made in education, research and development today will determine the future. We can’t let such urgent matters decide themselves. Instead, we need to actively collaborate in order to maintain a stable health care system. The pace of technological advancement is so rapid that it may be impossible for the developing world to catch up. In the future, will people still be able to access innovative medial technology?
The use of modern technology continues to expand despite its high costs. Medical advances are worth it despite their shortcomings. Expensive technology can be a bargain when it helps improve quality-of-life, maintain economic productivity, and prevents disability.